Judge Declares 23-Year-Old Man Accused Of Raping 14-Year-Old Girl In Ekiti ‘Not Guilty’
A 23-year-old man, Adeyemi Olawale, accused of raping and sexually assaulting a young girl, has been acquitted after a trial.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned Olawale, who was arraigned for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl, was first brought before Justice Adeniyi Familoni of Ekiti state High Court on February 15, 2022.
‘Adeyemi Olawale on September 11, 2021, at Ilupeju Ekiti did rape a 14-year-old girl, contrary to Section 31(2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap.C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012’ the prosecutor had submitted.
Justice Familoni, who has declared the defendant ‘not guilty’, cited failure of the prosecution to prove the allegation.
‘Given the inability and failure of the prosecution to prove the alleged rape of the victim by the defendant on September 11, 2021, at Ilupeju Ekiti, the defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted’ he said.
In her statement to the police, the victim had said, ‘I went with my brother to visit the defendant, who was my grandfather’s driver. While my brother was watching television, the defendant called to show me something in another apartment.
We hugged when we got there. Immediately I felt a shock in my body, he started kissing and caressing me. When I discovered he wanted to have sex with me, I asked him to use a condom, but he already had one in his pocket.
When he could not penetrate, I told him to leave me because I don’t want to lose my virginity now. Thereafter, we left his place for our house, when I was not comfortable with all that had happened, I called and informed one of my cousins who resides in the United States of America’ .
The prosecutor, Ajibulu-Ariyo Taiwo, called five witnesses and tendered statements of the victim and the defendant.
The defendant, who spoke through his counsel, Sunday Ochayi, however denied raping the girl, saying, ‘When we got to the apartment, we kissed and did other things, when I discovered she is a virgin, I left her alone’ – Team@orientactualmags.com
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